Pneumatic-tire protector.



0. A. BELEW. PNEUMATIC TIRE PROTECTOR.

APBLIOATION FILED JAN. 8, 1912.

Patented May 28, 1912.

Inventor.

rouruos sirens overn rs Application filed January 8, tom.

Serial No. Gilltififl.

To all wiwmc't may concern Be it known that l, CUBA BnLnW, a citizen of the United States, residing st San Diego, in'thc county of San Diego and State of, California, have invented a new to l luv proved Pneuinatic lfire Protector, ct which the following is a description.

This invention relates to a protector for vehicle tires of the class having a continuous elastic pneumatic inflatable tube, and has :tor its object the provision of novel details of construction of the character hereinatter in dicated, which embodies a continuous steel hoop, adapted to cover the tire tread and to incase the tire, and means for retaining the hoop in position with reference to the Wheel rim and the tire.

Another object is the provision of means whereby the vehicle Wheel may he run with out injury to the tire and the Wheel rim, when the air is out of the tube, and therefore provide safety to the vehicle until the tire is again inflated. Also this device produces all the advantages of an elastic vehicle tire, and renders the tire absolutely puncture proof.

My invention consists in the combination and arrangement of parts as hereinafter described and defined in the appended claim, and of which a convenient embodiment is shown in the accompanying drawings which form a part of this specification.

Of the drawings, Figure l is a. sectional and perspective view of portion of a Wheel and tire with my invention applied thereto, Fig. 2 is a side View of a part of a section of -the retaining member, and Fi is a detail view of a modified form of the tread portion of the protector.

While simple and edicient means are here in provided for accomplishing the objects of the invention and the elements shown and described are Well adapted to serve the pur poses for which they are intended it is to he understood that no limitation is necessarily made to the precise structural details on hihited in the drawings, out that changes, alterations, and modifications, which. are Within the scope of the claim, may he made "when desired.

Referring more. particularly to the drsvvings in which similar characters or reference denote corresponding parts ofthe invention thro ghout the several views, the steel tread poi on it, of my protector, forms a hoop or hand that. is curved to conform approni solely to the exterior of the rubber shoe 2,

of the tire, and flanges 3, on said. hoop, are provided with grooves t, which receive and engage with tongues 5, of the supporting and retaining member (3. .ltlcinber (3 made in corresponding; sections which are provided with ears T, pierced for bolts fl. which clamp the corresponding sections together. M0111- her 6 is adapted to lit wheel-rim l), closely,

end has extensions 10, which incase the outer ends of the spokes ll, causing the retaining member to be held in u rit .d. position.

in Fig. 3, a modified torni o the tread portion oi the hoop, is shown, saving projections l2, embossed thereon to prevent side skidding of the vehicle; .iher'tiis made in sections Whe'ehy the some may he the more readily applied to the wheel rim, each corresponding half being divided into three or four sections so that ton; res 5 may be inserted in grooves -11, of niemhcr 1.. it. pair of cars Z, is provided on rncznt r d. between each pair of adjacent spokes of the Wheel and. clamping bolts 8, extend transversely of the wheel rim.

It will be seen that when the tire is inlisted, member 1, of the protector, is so held that a. space is maintained in the bottom of grooves 4-, of flanges 3, thus securing the advantages of the elasticity of: the tire, and re ruining member 6, is uti. .ed to resist only the side thrust oi member 1. It. will also be seen that when the tire l. as become suiticiently deflated, member 1 will, at the bottom or pressure side, rise and form a coutuct with member 6, and s. constant metallic tire is thus formed for the vehicle Wheel, the rubber tire being thus protected from riin cutting and from further injury which liahle to occur when 22 tire is partially F. r

dated.

All parts of my device may he formed from sheet steel and therefore he produced at a low cost of inunuhicture. T e nine hein 1 wear and of steel is also adapted to resist protect the tire from puncture.

From the foregoing; it will he soon that. l have provided a device u'hich thoroughly protects and covers the tire of a. vehicle Wheel, the essence of my invention ing the tread member 1., oi a (K'JHiZll'lllUllS ooop of steel, retaining members (3, which hold the tread member in position who sufiioiently inflated, and. mean the retaining ineinher too. vel invention being such that a. or otl'icr pointed object cannot penetrate. the tire and the tire cannot become injured by becoming vol, thii U deflated, and also, the rubber tire which ,is an expensive part of a vehicle equipment, may be made thinner, and therefore may be produced at a cheaper cost, and such tire will be more elastic and of greater resiliency than may be found in the present forms of construction.

I claim as my invention:

In a pneumatic tire protector, a tread member conforming to the exterior of the tire shoe, flanges on said member extending inwardly and having grooves therein, a retaining member adapted to be clamped to the Wheel rim, tongues on said retaining member engaging with said grooves, extensions on said retaining member which inease the outer ends of the wheel spokes and assist in main taining the rigid position of the retaining member,'ears on said retaining member, and

'bolts passing through said ears for clamping the retammg member to the Wheel, substantially as set forth.

Witness my signature to the foregoing specification this 30th day of December, 1911. CUBA A. BELEXV'. \Vitnesses J. W. MASTER, F. M. KEENEY. 

